Leisniger canoeists save Venice: paddle protest in the lagoon city!

Leisniger canoeists save Venice: paddle protest in the lagoon city!

Venedig, Italien - on July 4, 2025 is a special event in Venice and beyond, because the quiet canoeists have made an adventurous journey. The goal was to participate in the "Vogalonga", a protest paddle that aims to draw attention to the dangers for the beautiful lagoon city. This event has been taking place for 49 years and addresses the devastating effects of the high waves, caused by motor boats, on the sewer walls and foundations of the city. The situation is particularly dramatic, since Venice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is threatened by this waves as well as mass tourism and climate change, as https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/europa-tedig-100.html).

The Leisniger canoeists did not let themselves and covered an impressive 1000 kilometers by bus and tent to take part in this important event. The event, which leads a distance of about 30 kilometers through the city's channels and brushes central points such as Markusplatz and the Grand Canal, attracts thousands of participants every year. For the canoeists, it was the first participation in the "Vogalonga", in which around 1,800 boats and almost 7,000 participants were counted. This has developed into a large local and international event that was originally launched in 1975 to protest against the superiority of the motor boats and show the tradition of the rudder boat, as [Veneziaautentica.com

an impressive experience

The "Vogalonga" event not only offered the Leisnig canoeists a platform to draw attention to the endangered city, but also an unforgettable experience. The journey was adventurous: from a campsite they paddled with their two-way canoes to Venice and were part of an impressive protest pulse that was on the road for more than six hours. The calm atmosphere that prevailed during the event was created by the ban on motorized vehicles in the channels, which brought the traditional paddle and rudder athmosphere back. At the Rialo bridge they were cheered by spectators, which further increased the motivation of the canoeists.

After returning to Leisnig, the celebration was not yet over. The canoeists organized a cozy Sonnwend picnic in Paudritzsch, where they could exchange their experiences. Their commitment to water sports can also be seen in the plans of the canoe club. On July 19th there is a public event where guests can try boats and SUPs. In addition, the association acquired the site on the Muldenwiese from the municipality and is working to improve it, which was certainly not an easy undertaking with the organization of a five -digit sum.

Venice threats

Venice is not only an attractive goal, but also faces challenges. Experts warn of continuing deterioration through human intervention, which can result in irreversible changes. The city and its lagoon have been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. In 2021, Venice Knapp managed to escape as an endangered world heritage, but the problem remains. The causes include excessive mass tourism, a progressive construction boom and changing climatic conditions that the city often flood from floods in autumn and winter. A flood of records in November 2019 led to considerable damage, which showed the need for an effective flood protection system.

The use of the quiet canoeists for the protection of Venice may only be a small part of a larger whole, but it shows that the local community can solidarize to draw attention to important topics. Furthermore, the canoe club invites interested parties to get past the boathouse on Fridays at 5 p.m. to learn more about membership and actively work for water sports and the protection of water resources.